Religious Studies

Offers a concise, current and readable survey of the world's great religions. Each volume describe where a particular religion is practiced, its central beliefs and rituals, its contributions to world civilizations and analyzes how it has spread through immigration and conversion.

Developed in prehistoric times, Shinto is the true expression of what it means to be Japanese. Less a formal religious statement than a deeply ingrained way of life, the rituals, traditions, and values of Shinto have both shaped and been shaped by Japanese culture. "Shinto, Third Edition" examines the basic tenets of Shinto, its evolution in response to other religious influences, and how the original Shinto religion - rooted in an agrarian society - survives in this contemporary industrial world. With color photographs and illustrations, a glossary, and an index, this highly attractive reference introduces general readers, religious students, and anyone with an interest in religion to the intriguing Shinto faith. The coverage includes: the idea of kami; the varieties of Shinto; introduction of Buddhism; the importance of shrines; the effects of World War II; and, the growing appeal of Shinto throughout the world.

This book will help you to appreciate the significance of Japan's own religion in everyday life to recognize the key traditions and festivals (matsuri) of the Shinto year to understand what you will see at Shinto shrines and in Shinto ritual to gain insights into the controversies surrounding Shinto, politics, and nationalism. Access the world's religions with Simple Guides: Religion a series of concise, accessible introductions to the world's major religions. Written by experts in the field, they offer an engaging and sympathetic description of the key concepts, beliefs, and practices of different faiths. Ideal for spiritual seekers and travellers alike, Simple Guides aims to open the doors of perception. Together the books provide a reliable compass to the world's great spiritual traditions, and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the core values, customs, and beliefs of different societies, they also enable visitors to be aware of the cultural sensibilities of their hosts, and to behave in a way that fosters mutual respect and understanding.

Distinguished scholar of Japanese religions and culture Helen Hardacre offers the first comprehensive history of Shinto, the ancient and vibrant tradition whose colorful rituals are still practiced today. Under the ideal of Shinto, a divinely descended emperor governs through rituals offered to deities called Kami. These rituals are practiced in innumerable shrines across the realm, so that local rites mirror the monarch's ceremonies. Through this theatre of state, it is thought, the human, natural, and supernatural worlds will align in harmony and prosper. Often called "the indigenous religion of Japan," Shinto's institutions, rituals, and symbols are omnipresent throughout the island nation. But, perhaps surprisingly, both its religiosity and its Japanese origins have been questioned. Hardacre investigates the claims about Shinto as the embodiment of indigenous tradition, and about its rightful place in the public realm. Shinto has often been represented in the West as the engine that drove Japanese military aggression. To this day, it is considered provocative for members of the government to visit the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which honors the Japanese war dead, and this features as a source of strain in Japan's relations with China and Korea. The Yasukuni Shrine is a debated issue in Japanese national politics and foreign relations and reliably attracts intensive media coverage. Hardacre contends, controversially, that it was the Allied Occupation that created this stereotype of Shinto as the religion of war, when in fact virtually all branches of Japanese religions were cheerleaders for the war and imperialism. The history and nature of Shinto are subjects of vital importance for understanding contemporary Japan, its politics, its international relations, and its society. Hardacre's magisterial work will stand as the definitive reference for years to come.